Friday, September 25, 2015

The last time I took pictures, I went a little nuts. So you saw the socks I finished, the shawl I finished, the shawl I'm still working on, the scarf I'm working on and my son being a nut. Here's something I did last January (not this year, last year...like before the baby was born).

Little Man insisted on being in the picture. These are my French Press slippers, that I STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED. It's almost embarrassing. Almost. There is another project that I hope to finish that has been sitting around for about 8 years (I made it when Little Man was a BABY - no literally, a baby) and do you know what it needs? Seaming. That's all. Just seaming. I know why it's still sitting in the bag, waiting for me to sew it up. The reasons are two-fold: first, I can't find my copy of the pattern I used, and I was going to reverse engineer the pattern. Second, I really don't like seaming. I mean, like I will do whatever I can to avoid it, including wait until my baby is no longer a baby and a baby blanket won't work for him because his legs are too long.

I have yarn that I REALLY want to use, but I just haven't found a pattern yet. Do you ever have those times? You love the yarn, and really want to use it. You even know what you want to make with it, but you just can't seem to find that "perfect" pattern. I guess maybe I should just make it up, but sometimes my brain hurts. I have trouble finding brain power sometimes. Do you ever have that problem? I don't know; maybe it's just me.

In other news, I am making loaded potato soup. Now please understand, I live in a house with extremely picky eaters. I'm not talking just one or two don't like a few odd things. I mean really picky eaters. For example, one won't eat anything that is spicy hot. One doesn't like bell pepper. Actually, make that two. Three won't eat asparagus. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. So, here goes my attempt to make something completely different. I'll share what I've done so far, and what I plan on doing to finish the soup, and let you know the results. So far, I cut up 4 slices of bacon, about 1/4 of an onion (again, back to the picky eaters - really small bits that cook to almost nothing and give just the flavor of onion), about 3 cloves of garlic (I have pre-minced garlic in a jar, and used about a tablespoon of it), and 7 medium sized potatoes in 4 cans of chicken broth. I added a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper. I have cooked it on high in the crock pot for about 4 hours, and will let it cook for another 3 or so on low. Then I plan on adding a cup of half and half and about a cup of extra sharp cheddar cheese to it. I'll let that cook for another 30 minutes or so, and then call it done. We're planning on having sandwiches with it, and since it's been raining and cool most of the day (high near 68 degrees), it should make a comforting dinner. Now, I'm off to finish something...either the scarf or seam up that blanket...not sure which.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

There is so much more than what I showed you the other day. Here is the first project I completed:

They are my Monkey socks. I can't believe I didn't make them until now. I still haven't woven in the ends yet. I'm lazy in that way. I need to, so that I can have another pair of socks. It was some selfish knitting. I don't remember the name of the yarn, so I'll have to pull that one out for you. It's a lovely variegated blue and purple tweed. Here is the second project I started after moving:

It doesn't look like much now, but it will become a Lumiruusu shawl when it's over. It has gotten slightly stalled, because it takes a good bit of concentration, and I have some other items that have taken it's place for that. Like a book from the library, that I am sure they want back at some point. I am studying as well, but it's for the schooling of my children. Speaking of...

Little Man was outside while I was taking pictures, and started showing off. He picked up one of my French Press Slippers (that I still need to finish...I have a finishing issue) and started playing around. How are your projects coming? Have you finished anything lately?

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Here is my finished Over the Sea to Skye. I don't know that it is as deep as I would really like it, but it's really pretty. I did modify the pattern a bit, since the yarn I used was thinner than what the pattern called for. I did another repeat of the lace mesh section, a garter section, and then half of a lace pattern and half of another garter section, Then I did the bind off, without the eyelet row.

Here's an up close view of the top where I made the modifications. The pictures make it look very bright - it's really not. It's darker than what it appears.

I am still not finished with the birthday sweater for Princess. I'm kind of stuck at the moment. I decided I didn't like the pattern in pieces, so I went for an in-the-round approach. It was also too big for her, so I had to downsize it. It's based on the pattern Teagan, from Rowan. It's a perfectly lovely pattern. I just don't like to seam, so I did the body and the sleeves in the round. I am also joining them in the round, and I'm about halfway up the shoulder. It's a matter of the neckline and sleeve caps at the same time. The original has set-in sleeves, and I'm still trying to recreate that. I don't know if I'll make it or not, but as long as it fits, it will be fine. I still have the pockets on the front to do as well. I had thought about double knitting them, but that was a bit much at the time.

This is Baker Street from Knitty. It's for my wonderful brother, who sent me the yarn. He wants it before the weather turns too cold. He's moving back to Atlanta from New Orleans this year, so he should actually get a real winter. NOLA is nice to visit, but after you've lived there for a while, sometimes it's nice to move back home. He gets the mountains instead of the ocean, and a different kind of crazy people. :) There are crazy people all over - we're just a little different. I should have this one done in a couple of weeks, by the time the cold weather sets in. So, what cold weather projects are you working on? Are you ready for fall and winter?